Archives for December 2011

Christmas Eve is upon us, and there may be a few more gifts you need to buy. You may even be unsure of what to purchase. What you may not have realized is your local grocery store is filled with wonderful gifts to give your loved ones and neighbors that encourage healthy habits. What could be easier than doing your grocery shopping and Christmas shopping all at the same time?

As a dietitian, I have done my share of encouraging people to stay on track during the holidays and avoiding weight gain. While I do find that some of those tips can be helpful, I also like to be realistic. It’s Christmas, right? Aren’t you getting the Christmas cards wishing you joy and warm wishes? I know I get all warm when I think of some of the delicious holiday foods I only get this time of year. I know it brings me joy to eat all of them too! So, here is my non traditional take on how to enjoy holiday eating.

2. Don’t go overboard trying to make everything lower in fat in calories. You can sacrifice taste and texture. No one wants to eat something that doesn’t taste good or has a weird texture.

3. It’s okay to overeat every once in a while. I admit, I enjoy my Christmas food coma. It happens once a year. I give myself permission to enjoy my food and not worry if I had enough fruits and vegetables. I have been known to unbuckle my pants and sit on the couch after Christmas dinner, groaning in joy and pain.

4. So what if you gain a couple of pounds. You can get right back on track when the temptations and gatherings are behind you. Don’t beat yourself up over it. It’s only a couple of pounds, not 10 or 20.

5. Don’t eat it because it’s there, eat it because it’s wonderful! I can’t tell you how many parties I have been to with mediocre food. If you don’t like the dried up meatballs, don’t waste your time. Move on or save for food you will enjoy more.

I am a baker at heart, and I love scratch baking. However, gluten-free baking is frustrating for me especially since there are some many different flour combinations. I have tried several brands of multipurpose flour and then I found King Arthur flour and fell in love. It was a no brainer for me to pick up a box of their muffin mix when it hit my store’s shelf. I must admit I was skeptical at first. Before I reveal my result, let me walk you through the recipe.

2. Whisk together melted butter or oil, eggs, and muffin mix. Beat in the milk about 1/4 cup at a time, scraping the bottom of the bowl after each addition. If desired, stir in 1 1/2 cups of fresh berries, chopping nuts, dried fruit or chocolate chips.

3. Fill the muffin cups almost full.

4. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean.

5. Remove from oven and after 5 minutes transfer muffins to a rack to cool.

* The only thing I changed was the add ins. I added one mashed banana to the batter. Once the muffin cups were full, I let each child and myself put in their own add ins. My kids wanted chocolate chips. I wanted lots of walnuts.

Results: I loved these muffins. They were moist and flavorful. The crumb was perfect. Honestly, you would never know they are gluten-free. I had one for dessert later that night.

Suggestions: The next time I make these, I will try tinkering with the ingredients to make them dairy free. I will also try to substitute the fat with fruit puree. It’s important to remember to follow box directions the first time around so you can get a real feel for the product. It’s also important to get a feel for the batter if you are not used to baking gluten-free products. The consistency is different.

RD/Mom Rating: Approved. Great product to change-up your breakfast routine every once in a while. I would definitely want to see if I could get the total fat down next time. Sugar is the first ingredient which I don’t like, but it’s great to have a “I can’t tell it’s gluten-free” breakfast muffin. I would definitely have a good protein source to go with the muffins. Since they are higher in calorie and fat, try to limit it to one or two at a meal.